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Illness, injuries leave Elyria Catholic short handed: West Girls Basketball Insider

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ELYRIA, Ohio - Within a 24-hour span, Elyria Catholic's chances of winning a West Shore Conference title went from good to questionable. The morning of Saturday's crucial WSC game at Avon, freshman point guard Riley Schill underwent an emergency appendectomy. The Panthers lost, 48-46, dropping into a second-place tie with Avon and a game behind leader Lakewood.

Eric Rothgery will coach a short-handed Elyria Catholic team the waning weeks of the regular season. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

ELYRIA, Ohio - Within a 24-hour span, Elyria Catholic's chances of winning a West Shore Conference title went from good to questionable.

The morning of Saturday's crucial WSC game at Avon, freshman point guard Riley Schill underwent an emergency appendectomy. The Panthers lost, 48-46, dropping into a second-place tie with Avon and a game behind leader Lakewood.

"Riley was fine at Friday's practice,'' said Elyria Catholic coach Eric Rothgery. "Doctors say it's a three-week recovery and that'll take us into the early part of the postseason.''

Then 3-point expert, senior Brittney McNamara, left the game for a few minutes after tweaking her shoulder, while senior post Karissa McGrath missed most of the third quarter after falling face-down. Also, senior Erin Herschelman is sidelined with a knee injury.

"Since we're using four freshmen on the varsity, our freshman team is down to five players but I'm very proud of the way our girls sucked it up and played,'' said Rothgery, whose team hosts Lakewood on Saturday.

Medina's woes: Medina hosted Brunswick on Wednesday in a huge Northeast Ohio Conference River Division game. The Battling Bees (12-5, 5-1) are tied for first place with Mayfield (10-6, 5-1) after North Royalton trounced the Bees, 50-25, on Saturday.

Medina has resembled a MASH unit.

Northern Kentucky recruit Sarah Kinch is playing with bruised ribs, Casey Midlik just returned from off-season surgery for a torn ACL, Angela Tesny and Faith Constance have battled ankle injuries and Carrie Pellini has an injured knee.

"We're 6-0 when Angela scores eight points or more, but we just still haven't put it all together yet,''said Medina coach Chris Hassinger.

Brunswick is streaking: The Blue Devils (13-5, 4-2) faced Medina riding a nine-game win streak.

"Defense is really carrying us,'' said Blue Devils coach Halle Lengal, "and there's always somebody new stepping up on offense.''

That includes seniors Bri Moss, Courtney Laudato and Michigan volleyball recruit Gabbie Bulic, along with sophomores Paige Salisbury and Monica Wasson.

"Paige has shown that she can shut down the opposing team's best player,'' added Lengal.

Shouldering the load: Parma's junior guard Nicole Gorka outscored Valley Forge in the third quarter, 11-10, en route to a 24-point effort during her team's 41-38 Northeast Ohio Conference Lake Division win.

 


Analyst Josh Lowe picks 14 area wrestlers to win state titles: Wrestling Insider

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Brian Brakeman has retired from writing his annual, highly anticipated Wrestling Forecast, but wrestlers still have plenty of good reading to do this week. Mayfield resident Josh Lowe posted his 10th State Tournament Predictions Report on Wednesday (tinyurl.com/bucksman2013). Lowe pays tribute to Brakeman in the opening.

Brecksville sophomore Austin Assad, above, and his brother, Aaron, are picked by Josh Lowe to win state titles this season. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Brian Brakeman has retired from writing his annual, highly anticipated Wrestling Forecast, but wrestlers still have plenty of good reading to do this week.

Mayfield resident Josh Lowe posted his 10th State Tournament Predictions Report on Wednesday (tinyurl.com/bucksman2013). Lowe pays tribute to Brakeman in the opening.

“There are not words that can appropriately describe his impact in creating interest in the state tournament series, and educating the Ohio fan-base about the landscape of each weight class," Lowe writes. “It was an amazing work, a true labor of love. Not just the ordinal ranking process, but the tying it together with stories, history, and analysis.''

Wrestling fans will never be able to replace Brakeman's historical perspectives and ability to compare different eras. While Lowe, 31, has not lived through the history Brakeman has, Lowe has a good grasp of it.

Lowe's 36,000-word report offers rankings and intriguing and insightful analysis of each weight class in all three divisions at the state level, and he takes a step further by looking at the district tournaments, as well.

His area Division I projected state champs are Brecksville sophomore Austin Assad (106 pounds) and his senior brother Aaron (113), Solon two-time state champions Brandon Thompson (120) and Anthony Collica (152), and St.Edward three-time state champ Dean Heil (132), Colin Heffernan (138), Edgar Bright (152) and two-time state champ Domenic Abounader (182).

Lowe's Division II projected champs include Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy three-time state champ Nathan Tomasello (120) and Perry junior heavyweight Billy Miller.

He also had six area wrestlers ranked No. 2 in Division II: Walsh Jesuit's Alex Mackall (106) and Michael Kostandaras (126), Lake Catholic's Anthony Tutolo (120) and Jimmy Szep (195), Crestwood's Dylan Krager (138) and CVCA's Jeff Hojnacki (145). Lowe ranks 2011 state champ Michael Rix of St. Vincent-St. Mary third at 126.

Rix, Aaron Assad and Bright are going for their fourth state medals.

In Division III, Lowe picks Beachwood junior Sammy Gross (126) to win his second title and classmate Ryan Harris (160), a two-time placer, to win his first. He also favors Rootstown junior Travis Linton (170) and senior teammate Jake Moore (220).

Lowe's team picks are St. Edward (Division I), St. Paris Graham (Division II) and Waynedale (Division III). He has perennial runner-up Massillon Perry second behind St. Edward, followed by Cincinnati Moeller, Brecksville, Marysville, Barberton, Solon, Loveland and Elyria.

In Division II, he predicts four individual champs from St. Paris Graham, which he ranks ahead of No. 2 CVCA and No. 4 St. Vincent-St. Mary. He also has Perry, Walsh and Crestwood in the top 10.

No. 7 Beachwood and No. 9 Rootstown are the only area Division III teams Lowe ranked.

Blair comes to St. Edward: St. Paris Graham caught a couple of key breaks to beat St. Edward two weeks ago. Can the Eagles catch similar breaks in an even bigger dual meet this week?

St. Edward hosts No. 1-ranked Blair Academy of Blairstown, N.J., on Saturday in a quadrangular with Marysville and Steubenville at 11 a.m.

St. Edward is ranked fifth by Amateur Wrestling News.

As always in what has become a good rivalry, there will be some lineup intrigue, star clashes and matches between lesser-known wrestlers that ultimately will be the difference.

St. Edward appears to have the option of flipping 182-pounder Abounader with 195-pounder Gabe Durzo after Durzo wrestled at 182 in a dual last week. That would put Abounader against Frank Mattiace, and both are ranked top-10 nationally.

At 132, Heil and Blair junior Joseph McKenna also are top-10 ranked.

At 145, Blair standout Dylan Milonas has been injured and if he's healthy, he'll likely face Pitt recruit Bright.

Key to a St. Edward upset will be victories from at least four of the following: L.J. Bentley (106), Chance Driscoll (126), Heffernan (138), Jack Wedholm (160) and Parker Knapp (220).

On the radar: Revere senior 182-pounder Stephen Suglio's three pins in three matches last week improved his record to 32-2 with 21 pins. Both losses were to out-of-state wrestlers. He's ranked third by Lowe in Division II.

Century Hawk: Hawken senior 152-pounder Seth King became just the second Hawken wrestler to earn his 100th career victory, according to coach Bob Rodriguez. He began this week 32-4.

Bracket binge: The Josh Hephner Memorial at Austintown-Fitch last weekend had an unusual format that coaches love because wrestlers saw a lot of action – as many as eight matches. It began with a pool format before wrestlers advanced to an eight-man bracket.

One who capitalized was Bedford junior 145-pounder Jairod James. Coupled with a dual meet win, he was 9-0 last week with five pins and two technical falls, and he stands 29-1 overall.

Pin man: Manchester junior heavyweight Jacob Hanzel is having a breakout year. He went 4-0 with four pins last week. Three of those pins were in the first period. He was 30-2 and opponents scored just 12 points against him entering this week.

Streaking: After pinning in the Catholic Invitational 152-pound final Jan. 20, Padua senior Tom McNulty pinned all three of his opponents last week. He was 33-4 with 18 pins, and owned 114 career victories.

Hoffman's hot: Midpark senior 220-pounder John Hoffman was 7-1, including a 5-0 mark at the Anthony Wayne Duals. He's 33-5.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661 
On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Jackie Ulmer giving Hudson extra push: East Girls Basketball Insider

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HUDSON, Ohio - Hudson senior Hannah Boesinger is, right now, the frontrunner to be accorded Most Valuable Player honors for her team, and rightly so. The Youngstown State recruit is averaging a team-leading 18.3 points, along with 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 2.5 assists and almost two blocks a game. However, junior Jackie Ulmer has quietly lightened the load for her teammate...

Hudson's Hannah Boesinger is getting plenty of help from teammate Jackie Ulmer. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

HUDSON, Ohio - Hudson senior Hannah Boesinger is, right now, the frontrunner to be accorded Most Valuable Player honors for her team, and rightly so. The Youngstown State recruit is averaging a team-leading 18.3 points, along with 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 2.5 assists and almost two blocks a game.

However, junior Jackie Ulmer has quietly lightened the load for her teammate and has made defending the Explorers a little tougher. The former bench player is scoring 12.2 points a game and collecting 2.3 steals, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

"We've always known Jackie's a scorer, but she's become a very consistent scorer,'' said Explorers coach Dennis Lawler. "She's got a nice jump shot, is dependable from the free throw line and she's really picked up her rebounding the last 7-8 games.''

Soaring Hawks: Hawken's having a productive season, standing 12-4 overall, 5-3 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division.
Not surprising to fourth-year coach Patty Hace.

"We have everyone back from last year,'' said Hace, whose teams finished 10-12, 5-16 and 12-10 during her stint. "They've really taken ownership of the team.''

The two seniors - 5-10 post Gabby Zuccaro and guard Jessica Waters - have taken to Hace's four-guard offense with junior Meredith Cohen running the show at the point for the third consecutive season.

Zuccaro doesn't need to average 15 points like she did last season with the emergence of 5-9 sophomore Hannah O'Day. Each is scoring close to 10 points a game.

"Gabby's creating more, will set up in the paint, then kick the ball out,'' said Hace. "She's reads well, which has left the 3-point arc open for Hannah and we've also gotten good play off the bench from junior Lindsay Kutash."

Playing tall: Tallmadge point guard Kelsey Rice stands just 5-9 but totaled nine blocked shots during Suburban League wins over Copley and Highland.

599 and counting: Gilmour Academy coach Bob Beutel has 599 career wins after Tuesday's victory at Perry.

Going back home: Trish Kruse's homecoming was bad for host Chagrin Falls. Kruse, a former standout and head coach at Falls, is now Solon's head coach. Her Comets defeated the Tigers last week, 75-47, in a nonleague game.

Rubino returns: Mayfield is 2-1 and has moved into a first-place with Medina in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division since Halle Rubino returned to the lineup.

Rubino, who was sidelined with an ankle sprain, averaged 12 points in the two wins and gives the Wildcats a solid 1-2 scoring punch with Shannon Zajec with the postseason just around the corner.

 

NFL draft 2013 links -- mock drafts: Predicted Cleveland Browns' first picks include Jarvis Jones, Barkevious Mingo, Dee Milliner and .... Manti Te'o

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Consensus is the Browns will go for defense, although one mock draft has them taking a quarterback with sixth pick in the first round.

jarvis-jones.jpg Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones (29) totaled 14 1/2 quarterback sacks and seven forced fumbles during the 2012 season.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 2013 NFL draft will be held on April 25-27.

The 32 first-round picks will be made on Friday, April 25. The Cleveland Browns, barring a trade, own the sixth pick in round one.

Second- and third-round picks will be made on April 26 and fourth- through seventh-rounders will be picked on April 27.

The Browns don't have a second-round selection. They gave that up in order to acquire wide receiver Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft last summer.

Mock draft season is hitting its stride, though there will be continuous back-and-forth over the next 12 weeks. The scouting combine in Indianapolis, Pro Days on college campuses and individual workouts -- among other factors -- will change minds and secure decisions.

Analysts think that the Browns, whatever their base defense will be, need help at outside linebacker.

A mock draft on CBSSports.com by Rob Rang has the Browns, with the sixth pick in the first round, taking:

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: While the Browns finished last in the AFC North for the second consecutive year (and fourth time in the past five years), Cleveland boasts a roster ripe with young talent, including at the skill positions for head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner to develop. As such, the team could be in the market for a dynamic pass rusher to fit new defensive coordinator Ray Horton's 3-4 scheme. Only concerns about Jones' health (he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2009) could push him down the board, as the 6-2, 240-pound outside linebacker was a dominant force for the Georgia Bulldogs, leading the SEC in tackles for loss (24.5), sacks (14.5) and forced fumbles (seven).
WalterFootball.com has already extended its mock draft to four rounds. It has the Browns selecting Louisiana State defensive end-outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo at No. 6 in the first round.

For the Browns' next pick, in the third round, WalterFootball.com has them taking Florida tight end Jordan Reed, explaining the pick with a critique of the Browns' Jordan Cameron, who seems to have made solid strides in two seasons despite having had rather limited football experience prior to turning pro:

Ben Watson is a free agent, while Jordan Cameron, drafted by the old regime, hasn't shown much yet. The Browns will likely search for a tight end upgrade this offseason.

Mock draft links

With the sixth pick in the first round, the Browns select West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. (NFL News Desk)

The Browns use the sixth pick in the first round to select Louisiana State defensive end Sam Montgomery. (DraftSite.com)

The Browns use their first-rounder to take cornerback Dee Milliner, from national champion Alabama. (By Dane Brugler, CBSSports.com)

Here's what, at least now, might be considered a surprise. With the sixth pick in the first round, the Browns draft Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o. (drafttek.com)


Memphis sends guard/forward Rudy Gay to Toronto in three-team deal

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The Raptors gave up point guard Jose Calderon and forward Ed Davis in the deal, with multiple reports saying that Calderon was headed to Detroit in the three-team trade. The Pistons will send Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince to Memphis, according to reports.

gay-trade-memphis-2013-mct.jpg View full size Wing player Rudy Gay (22) has been traded by Memphis to Toronto as part of a three-team, five-player deal Wednesday night.  

NEW YORK -- Rudy Gay is on his way to Toronto in the latest and most dramatic move in the Memphis Grizzlies' makeover, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The Grizzlies agreed to trade their star swingman to the Raptors on Wednesday, parting with the leading scorer on a team that has aspirations of making a run in the powerful Western Conference. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.

The Raptors gave up point guard Jose Calderon and forward Ed Davis in the deal, with multiple reports saying that Calderon was headed to Detroit in the three-team trade. The Pistons will send Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince to Memphis, according to reports.

Gay, averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, signed a five-year, $82 million maximum contract in July 2010 with Memphis. The 6-foot-8 small forward is due $16.5 million this season with $37 million more over the next two years. That's a big number for new owner Robert Pera, who took over the franchise last November and has quickly started addressing the team's salary situation.

Just over a week ago, the Grizzlies sent valuable reserve Marreese Speights and two other players to Cleveland in a move that cleared $6.4 million in salary and avoided a $4 million luxury tax hit this season. Team officials said that move put the Grizzlies in position not to have to make a move this season.

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins had been lobbying to keep his five starters together the rest of this season, but he apparently lost that fight.

"Wow," Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley tweeted.

Trading away Gay also eases a luxury tax hit due next season, while concentrating the team around center Marc Gasol and All-Star forward Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies had their best playoff run in 2011 when they knocked off then-No. 1 seed San Antonio before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games in the Western semifinals -- all with Gay on the bench after needing season-ending shoulder surgery.

Windham's last season in PTC like so many others: East Boys Basketball Insider

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WINDHAM, Ohio - This is Windham's final year of playing basketball in the Portage Trail Conference and the Bombers are making it a season to remember. An experienced roster that has survived some player defections, the Bombers raised their overall record to 15-1 on Tuesday with an 80-45 victory over Rootstown that kept them undefeated in the PTC's County...

Coach Marty Hill has Windham in the title chase again. - (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

WINDHAM, Ohio - This is Windham's final year of playing basketball in the Portage Trail Conference and the Bombers are making it a season to remember.

An experienced roster that has survived some player defections, the Bombers raised their overall record to 15-1 on Tuesday with an 80-45 victory over Rootstown that kept them undefeated in the PTC's County Division.

Windham will end an association with Portage County schools that dates back to the 1930s when it joins the Northeastern Athletic Conference in the fall. The NAC is made up of schools similar in size to Windham, but located in Trumbull, Ashtabula and Geauga counties. It is not a move veteran Windham coach Marty Hill is eager to make.

"I would prefer staying in the PTC," said Hill, whose 573-291 (.663) record in 38 seasons makes him one of the winningest active coaches in Ohio. "We've had a good relationship for a long time with all the schools."

In the meantime, the Bombers will attempt to win an eighth district championship in the past nine years. Hill relies heavily on seniors Matt Knight (16.2 points per game) and Cameron Pozsgai (14.5), both of whom will be four-year letterwinners. Sophomores Parker Rickey (12.5) and Jared Taylor (9.0) started as freshmen on last year's team, which finished with a 15-9 record and lost to Richmond Heights in the Division IV regional semifinals.

The Bombers, whose lone loss came eight games ago against reigning Division IV state champ Berlin Hiland, can put the ball in the basket. They are shooting 49 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line while averaging nearly 65 points a game.

Back on board: The best antidote for having a lengthy winning streak stopped is to start a new one. That's what Kenston did Tuesday when it defeated Harvey, 65-41, four days after a 46-33 loss to Chagrin Falls that stopped Kenston's winning streak in Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division games at 39 in a row.

While the win on Tuesday was a crossover game, a win is a win.

"Before the game I asked the kids if they were still mad," said coach Josh Jakacki, in his sixth season. "Everyone raised their hands. They played with kind of a chip on their shoulder."

The streak had its moments. There were 23 games decided by 10 points or fewer. There were 15 decided by five points or fewer and 12 by three points or fewer.

Unlike last year's worry-free season when the team went 20-2, the Bombers have faced adversity this season. Injuries, illness and personal issues have caused a loss of 24 player games. The team has had four practices with a full complement of players. Nine players have led the team in scoring on a given night. Only senior Jack Quigley and sophomore Jay Weemhoff have played every game. Yet, the team has a half-game lead with four to play.

Streak of its own: In stopping Kenston's streak, Chagrin Falls extended its winning streak to seven in a row. One of the reasons in two victories last week was the play of forward Liam Sullivan. The 6-2 senior had back-to-back 20-point nights against Kenston and West Geauga. In the two games he made 13 of 20 field goal attempts and 11 of 13 free throws. He also had 11 rebounds and six assists.

A handful: Cardinal center Jacob DiBlasio has a hot hand. Over his past five games the 6-5 junior has averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Lang Ranger: Eastlake North guard Paul Lang helped the Rangers split two games last week when he scored 66 points, had 16 rebounds and four assists in a loss to Maple Heights and a win over Geneva.

Some pre-spring words of advice for the Cleveland Indians: D-Man's World

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians did not attempt to re-heat, re-package or microwave a club that finished 68-94 last year. They made numerous personnel moves, beginning with the signing of manager Terry Francona in early October. Francona, while acknowledging the challenges that his team faces, oozed optimism in the off-season. Francona thinks that, at the very least, the Indians...

santana-double-twins-horiz-cc.jpg View full size Carlos Santana has always been a patient hitter at the plate, but the Indians need a little more aggression in 2013.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians did not attempt to re-heat, re-package or microwave a club that finished 68-94 last year. They made numerous personnel moves, beginning with the signing of manager Terry Francona in early October.

Francona, while acknowledging the challenges that his team faces, oozed optimism in the off-season. Francona thinks that, at the very least, the Indians can make some noise in a division that figures to be owned by the Detroit Tigers.

What effect the additions of Francona and others will have on the win-loss record is difficult to gauge, though, because the 2013 Indians have question marks and wildcards all over the roster.

In order for the Indians to show significant improvement, here is a to-do list for Francona and notable players:

Terry Francona, manager

• Don't worry about earning players' respect; two World Series rings already have accomplished that.

• Don't fret over how good the Tigers will be.

• Transpose optimism, energy and work ethic to coaches and players.

• Fight for players when umpires make questionable calls.

• Make sure the twenty-somethings are better players at end of season than beginning.

• Don't be distracted by any lingering controversy from book about Red Sox years.

Carlos Santana, catcher

• Don't allow inevitable rough patches at plate to affect defense and game calling.

• When calling a game, do a better job of varying pitch sequences.

• Improve framing and blocking of pitches.

• When hitting, make sure toe-tap doesn't go back to being a leg lift.

• Don't take too many good pitches in an effort to work counts/draw walks.

• Don't be afraid to go to Francona and ask for DH/1B time if/when legs get heavy.

Mark Reynolds, first baseman

• Continue to hit for power.

• Try to reduce strikeouts without sacrificing much power.

• Don't let an already long swing get even longer.

• Don't try to be Casey Kotchman defensively, but be solid.

Jason Kipnis, second baseman

jason kipnis.JPG Jason Kipnis could be looking at a breakout season if he can overcome the second-half slump of 2012.  

• Continue to play hard.

• Hit significantly better in second half.

• Keep the hands back on off-speed stuff, especially when behind in count.

• Guard against the front shoulder opening too early against lefties.

• Continue to fill up reporters' notebooks and recorders with insightful, honest analysis.

Lonnie Chisenhall, third baseman

• Don't feel pressure trying to lock down third-base job in spring training.

• Stay healthy.

• Hit better against lefties.

• Adjust to bulked-up physique.

• Don't get pull-happy; improve coverage of outer half of plate.

• Significantly improve defense, especially on balls to left.

Asdrubal Cabrera, shortstop

• Come to camp in premium physical condition.

• Play better in all facets in second half.

• Hustle as much as possible.

• Don't grind over having been trade bait in off-season.

• Give Francona a chance to establish a rapport.

• Play significantly better defense, especially on grounders to left.

• Improve footwork.

Michael Brantley, left fielder

brantley-catch-redsox-2012-vert-cc.jpg View full size Michael Brantley may be playing left field this season instead of center, but he needs to keep bringing his solid defense, regardless.  

• Ease into camp after sports-hernia surgery in off-season.

• Don't sulk over being bumped from center field in favor of Drew Stubbs.

• Increase home-run total without swing getting long.

• Increase stolen bases and efficiency.

Drew Stubbs, center fielder

• Significantly improve offensively.

• Cut down on strikeouts, thereby giving speed more opportunities.

• Get comfortable with toe-tap, which replaced leg raise during off-season swing adjustments.

• Continue to play Gold Glove-caliber defense.

• Don't feel pressure to justify Shin-Soo Choo trade.

Nick Swisher, right fielder

• File and forget brutal 2012 ALCS.

• Don't try to do too much to justify big contract.

• If Cleveland fans boo during a team or individual slump, think twice about cracking them publicly.

• Don't listen when critics say the Indians overpaid, lest it affect performance.

• Bring high energy, enthusiasm and intensity into clubhouse without trying too hard.

• Proceed with caution when needling Trevor Bauer.

Mike Aviles, utility man

• Dial down expectations after having started at shortstop in Boston last year.

• Mentally prepare for sporadic playing time.

• Be prepared to play all over the field.

• Improve on-base percentage.

• Talk fitness with Cabrera.

Ubaldo Jimenez, starting pitcher

jimenez-pitch-horiz-cc-2012-jays.jpg View full size Can Ubaldo Jimenez shake off a season and a half of uneven performances and finally give the Indians the No. 1-quality starter that they thought they obtained in 2011?  

• Significantly improve in all areas.

• Reduce moving parts in delivery, mostly to guard against front side flying open.

• Reduce number of pitches to 3-4.

• Rediscover split-finger fastball or split-change.

• Be willing to throw fastball inside to right-handed batters.

• Get nastier on mound.

Justin Masterson, starting pitcher

• Significantly improve in all areas.

• Simplify mechanics.

• Reconsider frequency of slide-step with men on base.

• Don't rely so heavily on two-seamer.

• Increase study time between starts.

• Feel good about reuniting with Francona.

• Don't talk about "people helping people" after getting knocked around in a loss.

Brett Myers, starting pitcher

• Be patient during re-transition from to reliever to starter.

• Don't over-throw early in camp.

• Improve command of secondary pitches.

• Continue to be nasty on the mound.

Zach McAllister, starting pitcher

• Build on progress of previous two seasons.

• Don't get flustered when defense makes mistakes.

• Improve secondary stuff, especially change-up.

Carlos Carrasco, starting pitcher

carrasco-yell-bucs-vert-cc.jpg View full size Carlos Carrasco returns from Tommy John surgery this spring, and should compete for a spot in the starting rotation.  

• Feel good about progress made in off-season after Tommy John surgery in 2011.

• Don't over-throw early in camp.

• Don't worry about six-game suspension needing to be served upon activation.

Trevor Bauer, starting pitcher

• Don't feel pressure to prove skeptics wrong.

• Don't feel pressure to justify Shin-Soo Choo trade.

• Don't feel pressure to justify draft status.

• Play along with teammates' takes on "unconventional" training methods.

• Reduce number of pitches to 4-5.

• Don't project arrogance or aloofness.

Chris Perez, closer

• Don't over-throw at outset of camp, thereby protecting oblique.

• Monitor workload while dovetailing spring training with World Baseball Classic.

• Continue to fill up reporters' notebooks and recorders with entertaining quotes.

• Enjoy playing for Francona.

Vinnie Pestano, reliever

• File and forget September struggle.

• Monitor workload while dovetailing spring training with World Baseball Classic.

• Continue to fill up reporters' notebooks and recorders with insightful analysis.

Joe Smith, reliever

• Continue to build off quality seasons of 2011 and 2012.

• Re-institute guidelines for acceptance into "Bullpen Mafia."

Brecksville-Broadview Heights tired of sharing the hardware: West Boys Basketball Insider

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BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Brecksville-Broadview Heights boys basketball team is in the process of erasing some bad memories. Despite playing their way to 34 wins in 44 games in the past two years, Brecksville has not won an outright Southwestern Conference championship. It shared the title with Avon Lake two years ago and with Westlake last season.

Brecksville's Tim Tupa, right, made plays on the football field; now he making them on the basketball court. - (John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Brecksville-Broadview Heights boys basketball team is in the process of erasing some bad memories.

Despite playing their way to 34 wins in 44 games in the past two years, Brecksville has not won an outright Southwestern Conference championship. It shared the title with Avon Lake two years ago and with Westlake last season.

That appears to be changing as the Bees, ranked 16th in The Plain Dealer Top 25, have opened a three-game lead with five games to play heading into Friday's game against North Olmsted. The Bees are on top at 9-0, 14-1 overall, with Westlake, Berea and Avon Lake sharing second place, each with three losses.

"The kids are tired of sharing the title," said coach Steve Mehalik. "We've talked about it. They've made it clear they want the title for themselves."

One more hurdle remains even if the Bees go on to win the outright title. It has been 33 years since a Brecksville team has won a district championship. Last year's team reached the district final but lost to Elyria in the final 10 seconds.

"That one really hurt," said Mehalik, in his sixth season. "I still don't know if I'm over that. We were so close."

Seniors Mark Chrzanowski and Matt Csuhran carried the load early in the season while Tim and Tommy Tupa recovered from football. Chrzanowski, also a fine golfer, is averaging 18 points and 6.6 rebounds and Csuhran is at 13 points and 5.7 rebounds. At 6-4, Tommy Tupa gives the Bees additional presence inside, along with 6-5 Mike Tyler and 6-4 Sam Swenton.

"We really are just finding a way to win right now," said Mehalik. "Winning ugly is something we have made a habit of doing.  If it wasn't for Mark and Matt playing well, we would not have been where we are. Now that Tim has finally found his basketball legs and timing, we are starting to hit our stride as a team."

Our three sons: For the first time in school history, three brothers shared the floor for Brecksville during its victory over Midpark. Freshman Tyler Tupa joined his older brothers on the floor to start the fourth quarter. The boys are the sons of former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Tom Tupa and his wife, Beth.

Day-to-day: St. Edward coach Eric Flannery said the status of star forward Marsalis Hamilton is "day-to-day." Hamilton injured his back Friday against Elyria and returned to practice for the first time on Wednesday.

Filling in fine: Brunswick has had more than its share of injuries and other player-related issues, but senior Kyle Wheeler has been a positive constant.

That was evident last week when the 6-5 senior, who has made a switch to point guard in place of the injured Ryan Badowski, scored 43 points, had 16 rebounds and six assists in victories over Stow and Firestone. Wheeler, a talented pitcher, underwent Tommy John surgery after last basketball season.

"He does a little of everything for us," said coach Joe Mackey. "He can play four of the five positions, he scores, he defends, he distributes, he rebounds. He's been very valuable for us."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD


Cleveland Browns: What should they be willing to trade for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith? (poll)

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San Francisco was 19-5-1 the last two seasons in regular season games started by Smith, who could be traded now that he's the backup to Colin Kaepernick.

alex-smith.jpg San Francisco quarterbacks Alex Smith (11) and Colin Kaepernick (background) on Wednesday as the 49ers prepared for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens.  


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many Cleveland Browns fans are wondering if the team should pursue San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, should he become available via trade.



The circumstances seem to indicate the Browns would have at least some interest in Smith, now the backup to Colin Kaepernick for the 49ers, who play the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl on Sunday.



The Browns went 5-11 last season with rookie Brandon Weeden at quarterback. Weeden, who played five seasons of minor league baseball before switching to football at Oklahoma State, turned 29 last Oct. 14 and has seven fewer seasons of NFL experience than Smith, who turns 29 next May 7.




Just as relevant to Weeden's status with the Browns is that the team has new ownership, front office executives and, essentially, a new coaching staff that includes head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner. The decision-makers who used a first-round pick, the 22nd overall selection, to draft Weeden last year are gone.

(Plain Dealer reporter Mary Kay Cabot writes about Smith's interview at the Super Bowl, where he said he "loved" playing for Turner when the two were together with the 49ers in 2006)



Meanwhile, it looks as if Smith's days with San Francisco are over, through no fault of his own. He helped the 49ers go 6-2-1 in his starts this season before suffering a concussion and opening the door for Kaepernick, who has excelled.

Smith had turned the corner on his career in 2011, leading San Francisco to a 13-3 record and a dramatic 36-32 playoff win over the New Orleans Saints before the 49ers' 20-17 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

Smith impressed in the playoffs. Though his completion rate was somewhat down, at 53 percent, he passed for five touchdowns, no interceptions and 13.8 yards per completion. He ran seven times for 70 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown sprint during the fourth quarter of the win over New Orleans.

From Smith's player profile on CBSSports.com:
 

Smith's 2013 salary of $7.5 million will be fully guaranteed if he is on the roster on April 1. If Smith is cut before the third day of the 2013 league year, the 49ers owe him a $1 million roster bonus. But if Smith is traded by that third day of the league year -- March 14 -- then the 49ers owe him nothing and another team will take on his contract.
Also from Smith's profile:

Expect a trade, not a release, by the Niners soon after the new league year starts. Potential suitors include the Jaguars, Bills, Chiefs and Jets with the Browns (reunion with Norv Turner) and Cardinals (will the Niners trade him to a division rival?) dark horse candidates. Over the last two seasons (26 games) Smith has completed 426 of 673 passes (63.3 pct.) for 4,881 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. For him, the numbers are terrific. It's clear that the work in the Niners' varied West Coast offense agrees with Smith and so long as he ends up in a system like it he should be decent.

What do you think the Browns -- if Smith becomes available and they try to trade for him -- should be willing to give up?




San Francisco 49ers vs. the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl 2013: Who wins and by how much? (poll)

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San Francisco is 13-4-1 including two playoff wins. Baltimore's 13-6 record includes three postseason wins.

49ers.jpg The San Francisco 49ers, including defensive lineman Justin Smith (94), on Wednesday at a facility in New Orleans. The 49ers play the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl on Sunday.  


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The San Francisco 49ers play the Baltimore Ravens in the 47th Super Bowl on Sunday in New Orleans.

San Francisco has won five Super Bowls -- the most recent in the 1994 season -- and lost none. Baltimore won the lone Super Bowl it has played, at the end of the 2000 campaign.

The teams didn't meet in the regular season.

The 49ers went 11-4-1 to win the National Football Conference West Division. They defeated the visiting Green Bay Packers, 45-31, in a divisional playoff game, then topped the Falcons, 28-24, in the NFC championship game at Atlanta.

The Ravens won the American Football Conference North Division with a 10-6 record. Baltimore lost four of its last five regular season games. They had built a 9-2 record that included two wins over their division partner Cleveland Browns: 23-16 in Baltimore on Thursday night, Sept. 27; 25-15 in Cleveland on Nov. 4.

Baltimore began its playoff run with a 24-9 home win over the wild card Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens then defeated the Broncos, 38-35, in overtime at Denver, and won the AFC title game, 28-13, over the Patriots at New England.




Zeke Marshall, Demetrius Treadwell power Akron past Bowling Green with ease, 68-55

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This sets up a big Saturday for the Zips, who host Ohio for first place in the Mid-American Conference.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Akron center Zeke Marshall was too much to handle for the Bowling Green Falcons Wednesday night, as the Zips comfortably pulled away in the second half for a 68-55 victory at the Stroh Center.

The Zips held BG's top two scorers, Jordan Crawford and A'uston Calhoun, to a combined 3-for-24 shooting, and the Falcons to 33.3 percent overall. There was little the Falcons could do against the Zips (16-4, 7-0), who have won 12 straight games.

"They just had us on our heels the whole game," said Chauncey Orr, who led Bowling Green (7-13, 2-5) with 16 points. "They attacked us, and they were aggressive on the offensive and defensive boards. That was the story of the game: They got up on us, and we retreated. That's why we got our butts kicked."

Akron's defense dominated until the perimeter offense chipped in just enough to turn a game in doubt into a contest with an obvious conclusion.

"We weren't great offensively," Akron head coach Keith Dambrot said. "Once we settled down our depth won the game for us."

Indeed, the decisive points came on 3-pointers from freshmen reserves Reggie McAdams and Jake Kretzer plus a stick-back from junior Nick Harney. It turned a 42-35 Akron lead into a 50-35 cushion midway through the second half. The Zips cakewalked from there.

This sets up a big Saturday for the Zips, who host Ohio (15-5, 6-0) for first place in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats did not play their scheduled game against Eastern Michigan Thursday because of an early-morning gun threat near the university. The game has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 20.

"This game is going to be great for our league," Dambrot said. "They believe they are better than us."

Marshall led Akron with 15 points, with Demetrius Treadwell adding 10 points and 11 rebounds. It wasn't until a Brian Walsh 3-pointer with 1:08 to go in the half before the Zips took their first double-digit lead of the game, 28-17.

There was no answer from BG for Marshall, Treadwell or Marshall's backup, Pat Forsythe. The trio combined for 33 points and 17 rebounds.

"Me and [Treadwell], we want to dominate, especially on the offensive boards," Marshall said.

"You can see him continue to get better and better," Dambrot said of Treadwell, who has recorded double doubles in three of his last four games. "He's a beast."

Scott Fujita says Cleveland Browns can successfully adjust to 3-4 defense

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The Browns have "enough young athletes who are coachable and who can adapt," says veteran linebacker Scott Fujita.

Scott Fujita laughs at Cleveland Browns training camp View full size Scott Fujita wouldn't concede that his NFL career is over on Wednesday, and said he was optimistic about the new defensive scheme coming to the Browns.  

NEW ORLEANS -- Scott Fujita, who's at the Super Bowl to kick off a new Team Gleason campaign to find a cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease, knows that his teammates are in for a big change to a 3-4, multi-front scheme under new coordinator Ray Horton, but is confident they'll embrace it and excel.

"Sometimes people can get too wrapped up in the 3-4, 4-3 conversation," said the veteran Browns linebacker, who's still recovering from the neck injury that cost him season and probably his career. "To me it's about trying to find a system that best suits the talent you have on the team. If you have a general philosophy of being a 3-4, you can still toy around and do some kind of a hybrid, much like Arizona has done the last couple of years or Pittsburgh, where they keep a defensive linemen slanting and moving constantly.

"But to go to an old-school [Bill] Belichick or [Bill] Parcells-style 3-4, the personnel might not be best-suited for that because they just made a huge transition to 4-3 talented guys, so it's a big change. But they've got enough young athletes who are coachable and who can adapt."

Fujita was D'Qwell Jackson's biggest cheerleader for his chance to shine in the 4-3, but is confident Horton will play to Jackson's strengths.

"D'Qwell is athletic enough where he's still going to make plays but he's one of those guys that you just don't want to leave unprotected," said Fujita. "That was the benefit of him playing in the 4-3, is having a nose or a 3-technique in front of him. If he's exposed to a guard all day long, I just don't know why you'd want to do that to an athlete like D'Qwell."

As for end Jabaal Sheard's role, Fujita said, "I don't know about that, but he can be like an open-side rush end/outside linebacker, drop back in coverage a little bit. But he can rush out of a two-point stance. I've seen him do it."

Fujita acknowledged that the roles of tackles Ahtyba Rubin, Phil Taylor and Billy Winn will have to be defined, but said their athleticism will serve them well.

"You really don't know how it's going to shake out," he said. "As long as the interior d-linemen have the flexibility to move around, they'll be all right."

He said he's talked to friends such as Jackson and linebacker Chris Gocong and they're gearing up for the transition.

"You adapt or you're going to get replaced," said Fujita. "I think [owner Jimmy] Haslam is committed to keeping things constant now for the first time in a long time and that's probably the right approach."

Fujita, 33, wasn't prepared to say his career is over after 11 seasons. He'll be a free agent in March. He's been diagnosed with a narrowing of the spinal column and suffered nerve damage in his neck in October.

"I'm not rushing into anything, but I think we all know I've had one neck surgery [13 years ago] and I'm potentially facing another one if things don't calm down in the next year or so," he said. "I've been through so much in the last year, year and a half, I think I just need to catch my breath and take some time and figure out the next step."

Fujita thanked the Cleveland community for its support of Team Gleason, which raised funds to cure Lou Gehrig's Disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fujita's good friend and former Saints teammate Steve Gleason, who had a diaphragm pacemaker installed at University Hospitals in Cleveland, is battling the disease.

On Wednesday, the foundation kicked off a new campaign with a video featuring many current and former players and coaches taking up the cause. It can be viewed at teamgleason.org.

Cleveland Cavaliers 'high' on Greg Oden's list of teams, says agent

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Oden's agent says Cleveland is "a place he would love to play."

oden-09-portland-vert-ap.jpg View full size Greg Oden hasn't played in an NBA game since the 2009-10 season.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Ohio State star Greg Oden would love to play in Cleveland, his agent told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.

"The Cavs are high on his list, and they're definitely interested in him, for sure," said agent Mike Conley Sr., the father of Memphis point guard Mike Conley Jr., who played with Oden at Ohio State.

"Greg is definitely interested in the Cavs. It makes a lot of sense. He's an Ohio Buckeye. He lives in Columbus. It's a place he would love to play."

Conley also said that the team's connection to the Cleveland Clinic would be another point in their favor as his client continues to rehabilitate after multiple knee injuries cut short his career after just 82 games.

"I think going into this process that the teams we will look at will have to demonstrate an ability to have those types of resources and expertise available," Conley said. "If that scenario wasn't there or not up to par, we wouldn't be talking to Cleveland.

"Though Greg likes Cleveland and would love to stay in Ohio, his health has to come first and foremost in these discussions. They don't have the golden goose on rehabilitation, but we're definitely impressed with their ability."

Reports of Oden's possible return to the NBA after three years away began to surface last week and reached a peak after he was interviewed during Tuesday's Ohio State game against Wisconsin in Columbus, but the Cavaliers have been interested much longer. They had a meeting scheduled with his agent during the summer league in Las Vegas in July, although the meeting never took place, a source told The Plain Dealer.

Multiple sources have reported that the Cavs and the Miami Heat have the most interest in Oden, but Conley said other teams were also interested. He declined to name them, but ESPN.com's Chris Broussard listed San Antonio, New Orleans, Charlotte, Indiana and Dallas. Conley also first confirmed the mutual interest between Oden and the Cavs to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida. Broussard and Tomasson are former Cavs beat writers for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Citing team policy, the Cavs have declined any comment, as they do with any free agent.

Said coach Byron Scott after practice on Wednesday, "I do not talk about players that are not here."

The 7-foot, 250-pound Oden just turned 25 on Jan. 22. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft after leading the Buckeyes to the Final Four. But his missed his rookie year with a knee injury and then played just 61 games in 2008-09 and 21 in 2009-10 before more knee injuries and surgeries caused the Trail Blazers to release him.

He played his last NBA game on Dec. 5, 2009.

As a free agent, he could sign with any team. He told The Plain Dealer repeatedly on Tuesday that he was concentrating on rehabilitating his knee and was not worried about where he might play next season. But Conley said it was possible he could sign before the end of this season.

"It's a process," Conley said. "There's more than one scenario. Even though he's visiting teams and they're talking right now and we would like to keep it low-key, you can't keep somebody 7-foot low-key for very long. It was only a matter of time [before the news of his possible return got out]. So there's a possibility he could sign with a team this year, but if it doesn't work out ... he's not going to play until next year anyway, so we could revisit this in the fall."

Conley said he doubted any team would sign Oden before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. But he said his client seemed upbeat about what the future might hold.

"He's my hero because of how he's been able to battle all these disappointments, and today he's in the best spirits I've seen him in since I've known him," Conley said. "That's remarkable."

Jones to Canton: Forward Kevin Jones was reassigned to the NBA Development League team in Canton on Wednesday. Jones has played in 15 games for the Cavs and is averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. He has appeared in six games for the Charge this season, averaging 23.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in 40.8 minutes.

Jones has recorded five double-doubles for Canton. Jones remains on the Cavs roster, which has a full complement of 15 players at the moment. Should the Cavs wish to sign Oden at some point, they would have to make a roster move to free up a spot.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Local swimmers from Hawken, St. Ignatius rule Ohio like few others in challenging 200 IM race

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The 200-yard individual medley arguably is the most difficult event in high school swimming. Northeast Ohio boasts the top girl and boy in Hawken's Sarah Koucheki and St. Ignatius' Derek Hren. Watch video

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Swim 200 yards. We dare you.

Swim 200 yards four different ways. We double-dare you.

For the swimming-challenged, that latter feat is called the individual medley, arguably the most difficult event in high school swimming. Covering 200 yards in 50-yard increments of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle tests the mettle of everyone in the pool.

Northeast Ohio can boast some of the most proficient competitors in the IM -- that's swim talk -- who have made a name for themselves over the years. With another swimming postseason getting under way next week, seniors Sarah Koucheki from defending Division II state champion Hawken and Derek Hren from St. Ignatius are zeroing in on bringing home titles. Both have the top times in the state entering this week -- 2 minutes, 4.37 seconds for Koucheki and 1:52.16 for Hren.

Koucheki, a North Carolina recruit from Chagrin Falls, has won the Division II event the past two years. Hren, a Euclid resident who will be swimming in college at North Carolina State, finished second in last year's Division I state race after showing steady improvement during his IM career.

Both go about their IM business in different ways, the route to winning the race means managing both strength and weakness.

SWIMSARAH.JPG View full size Hawken senior Sarah Kouchecki has mastered the challenging 200-yard individual medley, winning the event at state two straight years. So far this season, she has the fastest time in the event of any Ohio high school girl, 2 minutes, 4.37 seconds.  

A three-time state champion in the butterfly, Koucheki expects to be in the lead for the first 50 yards after opening with her specialty.

"I'm confident enough in the fly to be in front and stay in front," said Koucheki, who broke her own state division mark a year ago with a 2:03.41 clocking. "I've improved in the back[stroke] and I've done a lot of drilling in the breast[stroke]. My strokes are so ingrained, I don't have to count them. I know where I am."

Veteran Hawken coach Jerry Holtrey, with 22 state titles and a record 14 straight in Division II, said it takes more than adequacy in one stroke to get the job done in this event. Like many, Koucheki has had to put in the most work on the breaststroke, which is the toughest stroke for most swimmers.

"The breast is the one she had to work on," said Holtrey. "In her case, she liked it. If not, it was going to be like pulling hair."

Swimming is about all the long training hours. The IM brings a special blend of physical and mental strain to it. The rules for each stroke and their transition have to be followed by the book.

"All the legal rules are incorporated into all four," said Holtrey. "It's as if you are swimming each race separately. The officials watch each of the strokes closely. The turns are where 90 percent of the disqualifications are."

Hren can tell you about that. He was disqualified in the breaststroke at this year's Viking Meet at Cleveland State for not having his hands "discernibly separated" after his turn and dolphin kick.

Unlike Koucheki, Hren's strength is the breaststroke. He has finished second in the Division I state final the past two years and was ninth as a freshman. In the IM, he was 23rd as a freshman and ninth as a sophomore.

"The way I describe the IM, you are either a two-stroker or a three-stroker," said Hren, who will once again likely face defending champion Josh Brooks of Centerville at state. "Most have that weak leg of breast, so I think the breaststroker has the edge.

"The first 100 are going to hurt you, but that last 100 is where it's hurting for everyone. You have to hang in there to the breast because everyone knows the freestyle. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

DEREKSWIM.JPG View full size Derek Hren, a senior at St. Ignatius, practices the freestyle leg of the 200-yard individual medley. Freestyle is the last 50 yards of the IM -- the race to the finish. "My mind is saying go and my body is saying no," Hren says.  

Brooks won last year in 1:50.09, Hren just missing with a 1:50.34.

"Derek has evolved into a four-stroker," said sixth-year St. Ignatius coach Jeff Ridler, who swam the IM for Cleveland State. "That's what you get in college. He was very good in the breaststroke when he started out and he's evolved to be competitive in all four.

"What I look for is someone who really likes to train. They have to like to practice."

That has been in the equation for both Koucheki and Hren. Both put their single practice sessions at 7,000 to 8,000 yards per day. During heavy training, such as during the Christmas break, the double-session numbers approach 16,000 yards. That is 640 lengths of a 25-yard pool.

Depending on the day, training on each stroke will go into the thousands of yards. Both swimmers said varying the workouts helps keep things fresh.

"It's hard to spend a lot of time on one stroke, so you work on it as much as you can," said Koucheki. "But you can't ignore the others. I love the IM because you get to use all of them."

Unlike Koucheki, Hren gets some early competitive work at a meet when he swims the breaststroke during the opening medley relay, which goes backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle.

"I started fine tuning it as a junior," said Hren. "This year I amped it up. I could have won last year's race, but I messed up the turn from back to breast. You think about all the top dogs out there, but you have a little sneaker in there somewhere who can win it. It's going to be one heck of a race."

One guaranteed to be the full test of a swimmer's heart and soul.

Breaking down the IM race

Here's a look at how St. Ignatius' Derek Hren and Hawken's Sarah Koucheki approach their 200-yard individual medley races.

Hren's approach

Butterfly: Go as far under as I can. Kick when the hands enter the water. Kick when the hands exit. Touch the wall with two hands. Pull the hips in as small a motion on the open turn. Push with my feet off the wall. At the finish, touch with two hands again.

Backstroke: This is definitely the hardest one. After two-hand touch, do an open turn and see how far I can go under. I can't cruise. I know where I am when I see the flags. Touch one hand and do a back flip and kick off the wall. The last stroke into the wall, hit it with my hand and do a crossover, a combination of the flip turn and an open turn.

Breaststroke: It's OK if I'm not in the lead. It's one pull and one frog kick. The first lap can be deceiving. I think I should be in the lead. Touch the wall with two hands and make my move right here and open turn. Touch the wall with two hands and another open turn.

Freestyle: This last 50 is going to hurt like no other. My mind is saying go and my body is saying no. Just before the wall, do a flip turn for the last 25 and kick off. I just want to get this over with. It's either glory or defeat. Touch with one hand.

Koucheki's approach

Butterfly: Get a good start. Don't extra dolphin kick. Bend the knees. Approaching the wall, get a full stroke, touch with two hands and an open turn. Finish with another open turn.

Backstroke: Stay easy and go fast. This time I flip turn onto the back. I know where I'm at. I don't think about anyone else. Obviously, I can see them, but I'm prepared mentally to do the one thing.

Breaststroke: Push off on my stomach. The closer together my hands come, the better my strokes. Get my rhythm. Open turn onto stomach. Touch with two hands on the open turn.

Freestyle: The last stretch. Put everything into it. I just want to get faster. You have to have good endurance. I have good endurance.

-- Joe Maxse

San Francisco QB Alex Smith says he loved playing for Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner

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A league source said playing again for Norv Turner would pique the interest of the 49ers' backup QB. But Smith, who stressed he wants to be a starter, declined to go that far.

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, who figures to get plenty of attention from QB-hungry teams this spring, acknowledged Wednesday at the Super Bowl that he loved playing for Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner when they were together in San Francisco in 2006.

But will the Browns try to trade for Smith or sign him as a free agent? Would he like to be re-united with Turner in Cleveland?

"Loved my time with Norv," said Smith, who lost his starting job to Colin Kaepernick in November after a concussion. "[It was] a very, very friendly QB system. For [Cleveland], it's going to be a terminology change going from a West Coast system to the digits, but very, very QB friendly, big-play potential for the offense with a lot of chunk plays.

"He's a great play caller. I just remember he had a great feel for the game on gameday and a great feel for what the defense was doing."

A league source said playing again for Turner would pique Smith's interest. But Smith, who stressed he wants to be a starter, declined to go that far.

"No, I'm not thinking about that at all," he said.

Smith, 28, credits Turner with helping him get his career on track in 2006 after a poor rookie season. The No. 1 pick in 2005 out of Utah, Smith threw one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions as a rookie. With Turner as his coordinator in 2006, Smith made one of the biggest rating leaps in NFL history, climbing from 40.8 to 74.8. That season, he threw 16 TDs and 16 INTs as the 49ers improved from 2-5 to 7-9.

"Obviously, I'd gotten a whole year of football under my belt," he said. "I got back to playing football. It was structured but it wasn't. He gave you freedom as a quarterback to go out there and if you saw something to take risks, take shots and things like that. He wasn't necessarily so rigid that you couldn't do that, but it was fun. It was fun to play in that system because if the system worked for you, you felt like there were plays out there. It was fun. I loved it."

Smith, who plays in a West Coast system under Jim Harbaugh, is confident he can run Turner's vertical, downfield passing game, a modern version of the "Air Coryell" Chargers offenses of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"I spent a lot of years in it, a lot of years in the digit world and a lot of versions of it," said Smith. "I feel like I can."

Likewise, Smith is certain Turner, who spent one season as the 49ers coordinator between head coaching stints in Oakland and San Diego, will adapt his scheme to his quarterback's strengths. Currently, the Browns have big-armed Brandon Weeden, the more mobile Colt McCoy and Thad Lewis. Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said last week it's "premature to say" Weeden will be the starter in 2013, and Turner was also noncommittal, saying the Browns want "the best quarterback they can get."

Asked about how Turner adapts to his personnel, Smith said "Even when he came to us, he took on a lot of our terminology, didn't bring his own over. I feel like even watching him since he's been down at San Diego, he's changed down there with the personnel he's had.

"Over the years I've seen him change as he had LaDainian [Tomlinson], [Darren] Sproles, playing with [Antonio] Gates down there, things like that. Sure, it's much different than what we were doing when he was with us."

He said he's kept in touch with Turner. "We do talk in the off-season a little bit and when we see each other."

If the Browns choose to pursue Smith, they'll have plenty of competition. The Bills, Cardinals, Chiefs and Eagles also might have him on their radar. In Philadelphia, Smith would undoubtedly run more of the spread-type offense he ran at Utah under current Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.

"I'm certainly not opposed to it," said Smith. "We've done it here. Coach [Greg] Roman has done a great job implementing that stuff and even more now with Colin in. It's really dynamic stuff, really hard to defend. It creates a lot of problems for NFL defenses and especially defenses that haven't seen it. If it's very new to them, you can see their struggles on film."

In Cleveland, Smith would be playing for Chudzinski, who adapted his downfield scheme in Carolina to Cam Newton's running ability.

"I think the biggest thing often times is not being cookie cutter," said Smith. "The offensive coordinator can see what the strengths of his team are, see the strengths of the quarterback and all the guys around him and really tailor it to them. I think that's the best thing."

The 49ers would prefer to trade Smith rather than release him, according to Fox Sports' Nancy Gay, but the new team would inherit his $7.5 million a year salary for the next two seasons. Smith denied that he's asked the 49ers to release him after the Super Bowl, but admitted he'll sit down with them soon after.

"I don't know what the options are," he said. "I obviously need to explore those after Sunday."

Harbaugh, who made the move to Kaepernick in week 10, indicated that Smith deserves a chance to go somewhere where he can start and has praised how he's handled his demotion, including helping to coach Kaepernick. The 49ers seem committed to granting Smith's wish to move on.

"I want to play football," said Smith. "I'm not hiding that fact. I love this team. I love being a part of it and of what's going on, but I want to play football."

At the time Smith was benched, he had 13 touchdown passes, five interceptions, a league-best 70.2 completion percentage and a career-high 104.1 rating as the 49ers built a 6-2-1 record. Last season, he went 13-3 as the Niners reached the NFC Championship game.

"I really feel like I was playing my best football," said Smith. "I felt the most comfortable I've been on a football field in a long time, maybe ever. [The benching's been] tough at times for sure. Tough to accept, tough to watch. But we're in the Super Bowl, and this has been an amazing experience."

With eight years' NFL experience, Smith is still younger than Weeden, who will turn 30 in October. Smith turns 29 in May.

"I still feel I have my best football ahead of me, for sure," he said. "I feel like there's a lot more out there for me. I'm excited for my next opportunity, wherever that comes."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot


Ohio State and Michigan in the same division, more conference games and higher ticket prices ahead

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Tickets will go up to $79, from $70, for most games, while a premium ticket will cost $110 in 2013 and $125, $150 or $175 in the future.

OSUFANS.JPG Painted Ohio State fans cheer for the Buckeyes during their game against Central Florida during the 2012 season. The school plans to raise ticket prices beginning this fall.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Change is coming in the expanded Big Ten. Expect Ohio State and Michigan to play in the same football division and the Big Ten to play nine or even 10 conference games. That's what Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith thinks and wants, and in conference matters like these, what the Buckeyes want goes a long way.

What will happen for sure, as soon as the Ohio State Board of Trustees approves it Friday, is that it will cost more to see the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium.

The board's finance committee met Thursday, with Smith in the room to answer questions, and fully backed a plan to increase football ticket prices from $70 for $79 for standard games. For the first time, Ohio State will go to a premium pricing structure, charging more for one or two football games per year.

In 2013, that game will be Sept. 28 against Wisconsin and cost $110. In the future, there will be one or two premium games per year, with a home game against Michigan always falling under a higher price. That determination of how many premium games, and which ones are chosen, will be made before each season, based on the expected quality of the opponents.

In years when one premium game is chosen, it may cost $175. In years when two premium games are chosen, one will cost $125 and the other $150.

Basketball ticket prices also will increase, by $6 for the best seats. And as many as five Big Ten games a year may be designated as premium games and given higher prices.

Those Big Ten games will include Rutgers and Maryland starting with the 2014 season, and that will cause everything in the conference to be looked at. Conference ADs have been holding teleconferences, and they have several meetings scheduled in the next several months. Smith has expressed his preferences before, but he was as strong as he has ever been Thursday about what he thinks the future holds.

The idea of nine conference games has been talked about for years, but Smith has little doubt about it now.

“Just listening to the different telephone conversations, I'd be surprised if it's eight,” Smith said. “Right now, I think we can get to nine. The debate is whether you can realistically get to 10, which would be better.”

Nine games means some teams would play five conference home games, and some four. But playing 10 conference games would make it far more difficult, or impossible, for teams to get the seven, and sometimes eight, overall home games they need to make money.

“If we want to go to 10 games, and we could no longer have seven home games, that means we have to be made whole in the television package, so it all intersects,” Smith said.

As for divisions, realignment is on the table, and Ohio State and Michigan have basically changed their mind from what happened in 2011. Now they want to be in the same division, and expect them to get that. The realization has come that the potential of an Ohio State-Michigan conference title game after the Ohio State-Michigan regular-season game wouldn't be a good thing.

“If we decide it doesn't hurt the conference, whatever alignment we come up with, we prefer to be in the same division,” Smith said.

As for the tickets, charging different prices for different competition isn't new. But Ohio State's upper range for the best games will be higher than the norm. For example. Alabama football tickets this year, according to the schools's website, cost either $85, $70 or $55, depending on the opponent. An assistant ticket director at Oregon said the Ducks charged $93, $88, $66 or $39, depending on the opponent.

Alabama won the national title this season, while Oregon finished No. 2 in the final AP poll and Ohio State No. 3.

Smith said the school did not consider lowering the prices for lesser games, because those games are selling out at current prices. He also said he doesn't believe the increase will change the types of fans who are able to, or choose to, come to Ohio Stadium.

“Buckeyes fans are passionate. They're committed not just to the contest, but the experience,” Smith said. “I don't think it'll change that much.”

Ohio State hadn't raised football ticket prices in three years, and Smith said the move was made now because the athletic department needs the money. He said several projects to fix athletic buildings need to be covered, including resealing Ohio Stadium ($4.3 million), a new roof on the football building ($2.2 million) and new turf on the indoor football practice field ($600,000), a new track ($1 million) and a new irrigation system at the school golf course ($ 3 million).

Smith said this pricing structure should make the department an extra $6 million per year, $5.2 million from football and the rest from basketball. The fact that ticket brokers often get higher prices than face value for the best games was part of this decision, Smith said, but not the driving factor.

If the Buckeyes stop selling out for football, the plan would be reevaluated, but Smith doesn't think that will happen.

OSU ticket director Brett Scarbrough said the school in 2012 had 26,000 seats for students and 13,666 for faculty and staff among the nearly 103,000 seats in the stadium, and those tickets are sold for less than the public price. Smith said most schools don't reserve that many seats for those groups, but he did not want to cut that number to raise more money.

Smith also said he wants the athletic department to continue to give money back to the university, and he said cutting some of the 36 varsity sports is not on the table. So football ticket prices are going up. For some games, by a lot.

Updated at 10:15 p.m.

Northeast Ohio high school sports schedule for Friday, Feb. 1, 2013

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Boys basketball Note: Varsity game starts at 7:30 unless noted.

Boys basketball

Note: Varsity game starts at 7:30 unless noted.

AKRON CITY SERIES

Akron North at Akron Garfield, 7

Buchtel at Firestone, 7

Ellet at Akron East, 7

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Chagrin Division

Kenston at West Geauga

Orange at Chagrin Falls

Crossover

Harvey at Aurora

Metro Division

#11 Beachwood at Cuyahoga Heights

Hawken at Independence

#10 Richmond Heights at Wickliffe

Valley Division

Cardinal at Fairport

Kirtland at Newbury

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

#8 Cleveland Heights at Bedford

#21 Maple Heights at Lorain

Warren G. Harding at Shaw

NORTH COAST LEAGUE

Blue Division

Benedictine at Lake Catholic

#20 Walsh Jesuit at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

White Division

St. Peter Chanel at #9 Cleveland Central Catholic

#5 Villa Angela-St. Joseph at Trinity

NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE

Crossover

Mayfield at Stow

#12North Royalton at Cuyahoga Falls

Solon at Strongsville

#17 Twinsburg at #23 Brunswick

Valley Forge at #18 Brush

Lake Division

Parma at Normandy

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Stars Division

Buckeye at Wellington

Stripes Division

Clearview at Brooklyn

Columbia at Oberlin

Fairview at Lutheran West

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

County Division

East Canton at Windham

Garrettsville Garfield at Woodridge

Mogadore at Southeast

Rootstown at Waterloo

Metro Division

Coventry at Streetsboro

Crestwood at Akron Springfield

Field at Norton

PREMIER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Chardon at Geneva

Lakeside at Eastlake North

Madison at Riverside

University School at Willoughby South

PRINCIPALS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy at Indian Valley

Triway at Akron Manchester

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Amherst at Berea

North Olmsted at #16 Brecksville-Broadview Heights

Olmsted Falls at Midpark

Westlake at Avon Lake

SUBURBAN LEAGUE

#15 Green at Copley

Revere at Cloverleaf

Tallmadge at Highland

Wadsworth at #13 Nordonia

WEST SHORE CONFERENCE

Bay at Vermilion

Elyria Catholic at Avon

Lakewood at North Ridgeville

Rocky River at Midview

NONLEAGUE

Akron East at #22 Barberton

Cleveland MLK at Conneaut

#14 Glenville vs. #3 St. Ignatius at Saint Ignatius

Kenmore at Canal Fulton Northwest

Ledgemont at Maplewood

Lutheran East at Youngstown Christian

Max Hayes at Andrews Osborne Academy Perry at Ashtabula Edgewood

#4 Shaker Heights at #2 St. Edward

Western Reserve Academy at John Adams, 6:30

Girls basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

NONLEAGUE

Garfield Heights at Laurel, noon

MELANIE WILLIAMS TOURNAMENT

Max Hayes at Andrews Osborne Academy, 10

Hockey

Note: Away team listed first.

Garfield Heights vs. Western Reserve Academy at Kent, 5:45

Olmsted Falls vs. North Canton Hoover at Center Ice, 5:50

Benedictine vs. NDCL at Mentor, 6

Bay vs. Lakewood at Winterhurst, 6

Mentor vs. Hudson at Kent, 8

Normandy vs. Brecksville at Brooklyn, 8

Nordonia vs. West Geauga at Gilmour, 8:40

Solon vs. Kenston at The Pond, 8:40

Avon Lake vs. Cleveland Heights at Cleveland Heights North, 8:45

Twinsburg vs. Brush at Cleveland Heights South, 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boys basketball

 

 

 

 

 

Girls basketball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late results

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

County Division

xb>

Garr. Garfield13 16 6 8--43

Woodridge13 9 16 10--48

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Garrettsville Garfield (4-9, 2-8): Bright 3-0-9, Brown 1-0-2, Geddes 3-0-8, Jones 0-1-1, Kirk 4-1-13, Tabor 3-0-8, Witte 0-2-2

Woodridge (8-8, 6-5): Esterak 1-2-5, Kelleher 1-1-3, LoPrinzi 1-1-3, Watson 4-8-17, Wilkinson 8-4-20

Crossover

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Field11 12 12 4--39

Norton21 10 16 13--60

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Field (12-6, 7-4): Adelman 3-0-7, Adelman 2-2-6, Eldrith 2-0-4, Peachey 2-2-7, Shondrick 1-0-2, Spaller 6-0-13

Norton (13-6, 10-1): Bergstrom 1-1-3, Blackert 2-0-4, Cook 8-2-20, Dzombic 2-0-5, Fortner 5-0-12, Ivy 5-1-14, Robinson 1-0-2

 

 

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

xb>

#11 Midpark16 24 16 9--65

North Olmsted8 11 4 7--30

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Midpark (13-3, 10-0): Barnes 2-1-5, Carey 7-3-18, Carney 1-2, Gable 1-2, Maryo 8-2-22, Moody 2-4, Neric 1-2, Stornes 1-2, Ziska 3-8

North Olmsted (6-8, 3-6): Bukala 1-2, Kelley 2-4, Kiefer 2-1-6, Marino 1-2, Palange 3-2-8, Reines 4-8

 

NONLEAGUE

xb>

Hudson26 20 24 12--82

Aurora11 22 16 6--55

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Hudson (15-2): Baylor 1-1-3, Boesinger 11-5-33, Camp 2-4, Drohan 2-2-6, Klemencic 1-2, Madar 2-1-5, Mummey 2-2-7, Prosser 2-2, Ulmer 4-8-16, Zullo 2-4

Aurora (11-4): Brown 10-1-21, Garnek 3-6, Howard 3-7, Lasky 2-2-6, McNamara 6-12, Mims 1-1

xb>

Mayfield12 13 20 12--57

#19 Lake Catholic5 15 10 16--46

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Mayfield (11-6): Pasquale 1-0-3, Rubino 6-2-14, Shanaberger 1-0-2, Snider 3-1-7, Tritt 1-3-6, Valenti 1-0-2, Widina 2-0-4, Williams 1-3-5, Zajec 6-1-14

Lake Catholic (9-9): Gibson 6-6-18, Karako 3-2-8, Lorek 0-2-2, McCoy 1-1-3, Oster 2-0-4, Spahar 5-0-11

 

Hockey

 

 

 

 

 

Late result

Rocky River 4, Walsh Jesuit 2

RR (23-6-1, 6-3-1): Sperli 2, Kopechek, Garibaldi. WJ: Matson, Musgrave.

Goalies: RR, Nicholson (30 saves); WJ, Studer (28).

 

Boys swimming

 

 

 

 

 

Late result

Normandy 118, Padua 64, Valley Forge 57

200MR: P (Gliebe, Moysaenko, Giordano, Moysaenko) 2:11.55. 200 free: Vitlin (N) 2:19.78. 200IM: Moysaenko (P) 2:36.20. 50 free: Moysaenko (P) 28.44. Diving: Schuck (N) 146.85. 100 fly: Putrino (N) 1:12.81. 100 free: Moysaenko (P) 1:03.31. 400 free: Jolley (N) 5:03.17. 200FR: N (Novak, Jensen, Silaghi, Vitlin) 1:56.17. 100 back: Novak (N) 1:18.14. 100 breast: Moysaenko (P) 1:15.64. 400FR: N (Silaghi, Jensen, Jolley, Vitlin) 4:17.69.

 

 

Girls swimming

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late result

Normandy 93, Padua 93, Valley Forge 48

200MR: P (Tomoff, Wasco, Byram, Peloso) 2:30.14. 200 free: Shevchuk (P) 2:34.78. 200IM: Steponick (N) 2:42.77. 50 free: McManis (P) 31.21. Diving: Ward (VF) 115.13. 100 fly: Ranker (P) 1:27.78. 100 free: Peloso (P) 1:12.29. 400 free: Shevchuk (P) 5:19.03. 200FR: P (McManis, Wasco, Peloso, Shevchuk) 2:10.93. 100 back: Sakacsi (N) 1:27.90. 100 breast: Steponick (N) 1:26.20. 400FR: N (Potocki, O'Donnell, Lakota, Steponick) 5:00.14.

 

 

 

Bowling

BOYS

 

 

 

GIRLS

 

 

 

Gymnastics

 

 

 

Late result

NEGC CLASSIC MEET (no team scores)

Participating teams: Perry, Wooster, Wadsworth, GlenOak, and Cloverleaf

Vault: 1. Brandt (C) 8.90; 2. Wadsworth (WO) 8.80; 3. Jackson (P) 8.75; 4. Grabowski (C) 8.35; 5. Gerber (WO) 8.20. Bars: 1. Brandt (C) 8.70; 2. Almes (WA) 8.475; 3. Bates (WA) 8.35; 4. Wadsworth (P) 8.20; 5. Maddy (WO) 8.05. Beam: 1. Brandt (C) 9.00; 2. Almes (WA) 8.80; 3. Jackson (P) 8.70; 4. Shank (WO) 8.60; 5. Bates (WA) 8.50. Floor: 1. Brandt (C) 9.50; 2. Almes (WA) 9.303. Jackson (P) 8.875; 4. Wadsworth (P) 8.85; 5. Shank (WO) 8.70. All-around: 1. Brandt (C) 36.10; 2. Almes (WA) 34.425; 3. Jackson (P) 34.225; 4. Wadsworth (WO) 34.175; 5. Bates (WA) 33.625.

 

 

What's behind struggles at Cleveland State and Kent State: College Basketball Insider

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Both teams got off to good starts, but along the way injuries have hurt the Vikings and defensive play has stopped the Golden Flashes.

CSU-KAMCZYC-2013.JPG Cleveland State's Tim Kamczyc goes up for a shot against Loyola during the first half of their basketball game on Jan. 23 at the Wolstein Center.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The die is pretty much cast for the three local college basketball teams. While Akron (16-5, 7-0) is on a roll, Cleveland State (10-12, 2-6) and Kent State (11-10, 2-5) are struggling. So what happened to the Vikings and the Golden Flashes? 

Cleveland State: The Vikings (10-12, 2-6) have been off for a week. But going into its game Saturday at Illinois-Chicago, they have not won a game since upsetting Detroit, 74-62 three weeks ago. CSU has lost four straight and seven of its last eight. The Vikings have yet to win a Horizon League road game.

Scoring is the big issue as CSU has struggled lately to post more than 55 points a game. That has to change.

“We have got to do a little more going after people,” head coach Gary Waters said prior to Thursday’s practice. “If we keep doing what everybody else does, that’s not good.”

This was expected to be a season of transition, but with a bevy of highly touted recruits still a comfortable winning season. However, a preseason injury to 6-5 cornerstone recruit Junior Lomomba, followed by an early season injury to starting sophomore center Anton Grady has impacted CSU greatly.

Lomomba, missed the first five games of the season, and seven of the first nine, but since his return has yet to show off the scoring, rebounding and defensive ability many predicted. Lomomba, who plays with a steel plate in his left shoe, which is one size larger than the other, has scored in double figures only twice this season.

“He’s feeling it,” Waters said of the injury, “but his attitude is good. He really wants to get something out of this season.”

Grady was at 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game when a knee injury sidelined him for the season. The Vikings were 4-2 when he went down, 6-10 since.

With Grady getting a redshirt and Lomomba with three full seasons ahead of him, plus the emergence of freshman scorer Bryn Forbes (12.1 points per game overall, 16.4 in the Horizon), the cornerstones are in place for Cleveland State to make this one bad season a blip on the radar.

“We still expect to finish strong,” said Waters. And the schedule helps, with five of the next six after UIC at home. “If we can fight and get a home court (Horizon League) tournament game, I think by then we can be a hard team to beat.” 

KSU-HOLT-2013.JPG Kent State guard Randal Holt takes a shot over Ohio Bobcats guard Nick Kellogg in the second half of their game Jan. 26 in Kent. Ohio won the game 69-68.  

Kent State: The Golden Flashes (11-10, 2-5) have suddenly hit the wall after entering conference play at 9-5. They have lost four straight, three of them when tied or leading in the final minute. Now Kent must prepare for a home game tonight against Eastern Michigan (10-10, 3-3).

While the conversation almost always points to offense in cases like this, fact is in every one of KSU’s failed last-minute losses, going back to its early season overtime setback to Valparaiso, the players have yet to make the big defensive stop or get the big rebound to secure a victory.

The Flashes’ last-minute offense has actually won its share this season, (Drexel, Bethune-Cookman, Youngstown State, Arkansas State, Fairmont State), but when they’ve needed that one big stop at the end (Valparaiso, Akron, Ohio, Northern Illinois), they have come up short. 

Travis Hafner, record-setting DH for Cleveland Indians, has agreed to 1-year deal with the New York Yankees

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Travis Hafner, pending a physical, will be wearing the pinstripes of the New York Yankees in 2013.

hafner-horiz-swing-cc.jpg Former Indians DH Travis Hafner has agreed to terms with the New York Yankees, pending a physical.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's been confirmed by a source and multiple reports that Travis Hafner has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the New York Yankees. Hafner is the Indians all-time home-run leader among designated hitters with 187. Overall, he ranks eighth in club history with 199 homers.

It's believed the deal is contingent on Hafner passing a physical. He's currently vacationing with his family in the Turks and Caicos Islands southeast of Miami.

Hafner became a free agent when the Indians didn't exercise his $13 million club option for 2013 in October. GM Chris Antonetti continued to talk with Hafner's agents this winter, but a deal couldn't be reached. Hafner, who lives in Cleveland, worked out at Progressive Field for much of the winter, but last week he cleaned out his locker.

The one-year deal, reportedly, could be worth as much as $2 million.

Hafner, 35, has not played more than 118 games in a season since 2007 because of injuries. Last season he hit .228 (50-for-219) with six doubles, two triples, 12 homers and 34 RBI in 66 games. He was on the disabled list twice.

 

 

Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee developing into a defensive whiz

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Aonzo Gee is becoming the Cavaliers' defensive version of Kyrie Irving. The 6-6 forward usually gets the toughest defensive assignments, and more often than not, he more than holds his own.

gee.jpg Golden State Warriors'€™ Andris Biedrins fouls the Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee during the first quarter Tuesday at The Q in Cleveland.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Alonzo Gee is to the Cavaliers defense what Kyrie Irving is to their offense.

"At times, he's the catalyst on that end of the floor," Cavs coach Byron Scott said before his team traveled to Detroit for tonight's game against the Pistons. "He gets it all started."

At various times this season, Gee has guarded the Clippers' Chris Paul, Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings and Portland's Damian Lillard -- three of the top point guards in the league. Not coincidentally, the Cavs won all three of those games.

Such performances leave Scott wishing he could clone the 6-6 Gee against teams like the Clippers.

"There are certain games I look at and I say, 'OK, if we can have him guard CP, and then guard [Caron] Butler and then guard [Jamal] Crawford, we'll be in great shape,'" Scott said. "But we don't have three Zos.

"He does the best he can, and he always gives you an effort. That's the one thing about Zo. He's going to get out there and give you everything he's got."

That's why it was so surprising to see Golden State's Klay Thompson pour in a career-high 32 points against Gee in the Warriors 108-95 victory over the Cavs on Tuesday at The Q.

"Klay is a good player," Scott said. "We know he can flat out shoot the ball, especially when you give him space. We gave him way too much room at times and it was one of those games where Zo just wasn't very good on the defensive end for the first time in a long time. That happens. That's basketball. You're not going to be perfect every single night.

"Klay just took advantage of it. Then after that, it really didn't matter who we put on him. You get a guy that hot, he doesn't see anything but a big, old round circle up there. It's not even a basket anymore. He was able to knock down shots on a consistent basis. You have to give him a lot of credit."

Gee did.

"He got hot and got going," the Cavs forward said of Thompson. "He was making a lot of shots. He was very confident. He was finding his shot. Sometimes we missed him in transition and left him wide open. We did a bad job of finding him."

As Scott said, it does happen. Paul Pierce scored 40 on Gee in Boston on Dec. 19. Kobe Bryant had 42 on Dec. 11. But by and large, it has been a successful strategy since Scott had Gee pick up Paul full court down the stretch of the Cavs victory in Los Angeles on Nov. 5.

"Zo did a terrific job of denying him the ball and take it out of his hands as much as possible and picking him up full court to try to tire him out a little bit," Scott recalled. "From that point on, we said there's a lot of guys in this league at that point guard or two guard position that we feel he can guard, and he's done a terrific job.

"He's bigger. The strength that he has, the athleticism. It's a big-time challenge. What that does for us, it gets everybody up when Zo picks up guys like that. He's hounding guys. He likes that challenge. He loves that challenge."

If the Cavs had more players accept that challenge defensively, perhaps their opponents wouldn't still be shooting a league-high 47.3 percent. But Gee's defense comes with a price. He often doesn't have much left on the offensive end. Against the Warriors, he missed all five shots he took. He's now averaging 10.6 points per game and shooting 40 percent.

While Scott would love more scoring from Gee, what he asks of him offensively is not that complicated.

"When he has a chance to attack the rim, attack the rim," the coach said. "When he has open shots, take open shots. I don't want him to think a whole lot out there on offense. I want it to be just a reactional thing."

Gee wasn't bothered by his shooting on Wednesday.

"I didn't let it affect me," he said. "I have scorers on my team. It wasn't a big deal for me. My main focus is on the defensive end, try to stop their main scorer. That's what I'm looking to do."

Four stars: The last time the Cavs sent four young players to the All-Star Weekend festivities was 1998, when Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Brevin Knight, Derek Anderson and Cedric Henderson were invited to the Rookie Challenge. Ilgauskas was the MVP, and Anderson was injured and did not play. That game featured all rookies, divided by conference. There was no game in the lockout year of 1999, and the format was changed to rookies vs. sophomores in 2000. Comings and goings: The Cavs recalled forward Kevin Jones from their D-League affiliate in Canton, where he had 18 points and 14 rebounds in Canton's loss to Erie on Wednesday. Jones, who will be available for the Cavs game at Detroit tonight is averaging 23.0 points and 12.6 rebounds in seven games in Canton and 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 15 games with the Cavs. . . . The Cavs did not practice on Thursday because they left early for Detroit to take part in the annual meeting held by each team with its players to help explain and discuss the business side of basketball. The Cavs presentation included a talk by owner Dan Gilbert and a tour of the Quicken Loans headquarters in downtown Detroit. Quicken Loans was named the best place to work in the country on Thursday by Workplace Dynamics after a review of 872 organizations.

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